Guwahati: Relentless monsoon rains, including record-breaking rainfall in Assam’s Silchar, have triggered devastating floods and landslides across northeastern India, claiming numerous lives and displacing thousands. Silchar recorded an unprecedented 415 millimetres of rainfall in the 24 hours ending today, surpassing a 132-year-old record of 290.3 millimetres set in 1893. This deluge has pushed the city into its first major flood of the year, exacerbating the broader crisis in the region.
The death toll across the northeastern states varies slightly across credible sources, but conservative estimates place it at a minimum of 31 fatalities since May 29, 2025.
Torrential monsoon rains have unleashed severe flooding and landslides across northeastern India, causing widespread devastation in states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim. State governments across the northeast are mobilising resources to address the crisis. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured affected communities of full support, with relief materials being distributed and medical teams deployed to prevent waterborne diseases. Similar efforts are underway in other states, with local administrations urging residents to follow safety advisories and avoid flood-prone areas. The scale of the devastation, submerged homes and uprooted lives underscore the urgency of the situation.
As the region braces for more rainfall with the onset of the southwest monsoon season, the India Meteorological Department has warned of continued risks in the coming weeks. The long-range forecast for June to September 2025 predicts above-average rainfall across parts of northeastern India, raising concerns about prolonged flooding. Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and are ramping up efforts to strengthen infrastructure resilience in anticipation of further challenges.
According to the India Meteorological Department, a deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal, which crossed the West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts on May 29, 2025, triggered heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across the region until May 31, with isolated areas in Meghalaya experiencing rainfall exceeding 30 centimetres on May 30. The department further reported that a well-marked low-pressure system, a remnant of this depression, dissipated over northeast Assam by May 31, but heavy to very heavy rainfall continued in parts of the northeastern states and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal until June 1. On June 2, the India Meteorological Department recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Nagaland and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, with heavy rainfall also reported in Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland within the 24 hours ending at 0830 hours Indian Standard Time.
In Assam, the situation remains dire, with the Brahmaputra River overflowing and submerging low-lying areas. Visuals from Dibrugarh and Jorhat’s Nimati Ghat show the river’s water levels alarmingly high, disrupting local water ferry services and inundating villages. At least 175 villages have reportedly been flooded, affecting over 78,000 people, with 11 fatalities reported in the state alone. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority confirms that more than 400,000 individuals have been impacted across the state, with relief and rescue operations underway to assist those stranded in floodwaters.
Arunachal Pradesh has also been severely hit, with nine deaths reported due to floods and landslides. Perilous conditions prevail in Maliney, where villagers were forced to cross overflowing rivers, underscoring the region’s infrastructure challenges. The Arunachal Pradesh government has deployed emergency response teams to evacuate affected residents and provide relief supplies, though damaged roads and bridges have hampered efforts.
In Manipur, over 19,000 people have been affected, with flooding causing significant disruption to daily life. The state government has set up temporary shelters and is coordinating with the National Disaster Response Force to manage the crisis. Mizoram reports six deaths, with landslides compounding the damage caused by flooding. The Mizoram State Disaster Management Authority has issued advisories urging residents in vulnerable areas to relocate to safer zones, while relief camps have been established to accommodate displaced families.
Meghalaya, which faced exceptionally heavy rainfall, reported seven deaths, with the state government working to restore connectivity in areas cut off by landslides. Nagaland recorded one fatality, and heavy rainfall continues to pose risks in isolated areas. Sikkim faces a unique challenge, with over 1,000 tourists stranded due to heavy rains and disrupted road networks. The Sikkim Tourism Department is collaborating with local authorities to ensure the safe evacuation of tourists, with helicopters deployed in areas where roads remain impassable.
The India Meteorological Department’s Flood Meteorological Offices, including the one in Guwahati, have been instrumental in providing real-time data to the Central Water Commission for issuing flood warnings along rivers such as the Kosi, Mahananda, and Baghmati in the region. The department’s ongoing hydrometeorological support, part of a World Bank-aided Hydrology Project, has enhanced rainfall data collection, aiding in more accurate forecasting and disaster preparedness. The India Meteorological Department’s extended forecast for May 29 to June 11, 2025, indicates that the southwest monsoon will continue to bring significant rainfall to the region, potentially exacerbating the situation.
– global bihari bureau
